DAY 0 FLY TO EGYPT: Thu

DAY 1 CAIRO: FRI

On arrival, pass through customs and meet our representative who will transfer you to your 5* deluxe hotel. Due to various arrival times, no activities are planned for today. Meals are on your own.

DAY 2 CAIRO: SAT (B, D)

After a sumptuous buffet breakfast, depart on your full day tour which will include stops at the famous pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus as well as the impressive Sphinx carved in rock. After a break for lunch (on own), visit the Papyrus Institution which contains the largest collection of papyrus reproductions of all the famous paintings of ancient Egypt. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 3 CAIRO/FLY TO LUXOR: SUN (B, D)

After breakfast, visit the fabulous Egyptian Museum with its ancient art and the treasures of the Tomb of Tutankhamun, before transfering to Cairo Airport for your short afternoon flight to Luxor. Upon arrival you with be met by our representative for the transfer to your hotel. Check in is followed by dinner and overnight accommodation.

DAY 4 LUXOR/ NILE CRUISE : MON (B, L, D)

After breakfast, check-out of your hotel and embark on your tour of the East Bank and the fabulous Luxor and Karnak Temples. Then, transfer directly to your 5 * ship for check-in and lunch on board. The afternoon is free for you to explore your floating hotel or the vibrant markets located dock-side. Dinner on board.

DAY 5 NILE CRUISE/ESNA/ EDFU: TUE (B, L, D)

After breakfast, depart on your tour of the West Bank, the “Valley of the Kings” where 64 of Egypt’s Pharaohs have their resting places. Continue to visit the palatial Temple of Queen Hatchepsut and stop at the humongous Collossi of Memnon. Return to the ship for lunch as you sail on via the Esna Lock toward Edfu. An evening welcome drink will precede dinner followed by a Disco party!.

DAY 6 NILE CRUISE / KOM OMBO/ ASWAN: WED (B, L, D)

After breakfast in Edfu, a carriage ride will take you to the superbly preserved Temple of Horus dedicated to the Falcon God. Return to the ship for lunch and sail on to Kom Ombo. On arrival, tour the Temples of Kom Ombo dedicated to two deities; the crocodile headed “Sobek” and the “Haroeris” the double headed sparrow/hawk. On board lectures and other activities will be available on board – or just sit back on the sun deck with a cool drink and enjoy the passing vistas. Tonight prepare for the Galabya (Toga) party!

DAY 7 NILE CRUISE /ASWAN: THU (B, L, D)

After breakfast, begin your exploration of gorgeous Aswan with a tour of the Unfinished Obelisk, the High Dam, ending with a delightful sail aboard the local feluccas. Return to your ship for lunch. The afternoon is free to explore Aswan’s many markets. Dinner on board will be followed by a Belly Dance show!.

DAY 8 END CRUISE:ASWAN /CAIRO: FRI (B, D)

After breakfast, the morning is free to give you time to explore Aswan or to take the optional air excursion to the fantastic Temples of Abu Simbel. Then bid your crew goodbye as you transfer to the airport for your flight to Cairo. On arrival, stop at the El Khalili bazaar for last minute souvenir shopping before transferring to your hotel for a final dinner and overnight.

DAY 9 CAIRO/HOME: SAT (B)

As all good things must come to an end, so does your Egypt adventure as you pack away your memories and transfer to the airport for your flights home! END

M/S Farah

Introducing the newest most luxurious cruiser along the Nile – the MS “Farah”. This opulent brand new vessel, launched in October of 2010 boasts of world class facilities, accommodations and superior on board service! She features 62 extra spacious all outside facing cabins 250 sq ft and 2 luxurious 550 sq ft suites. Low deck cabins have windows while all other cabins feature floor to ceiling French Balconies, flat screen LCD TV’s, mini bars, elegant bathrooms with hair dryers, individual climate controls and a unique western style feature – free wireless internet throughout! Public areas include a one sitting restaurant with buffet breakfasts and lunches and the first ever a’la’carte dinner options, a night bar, entertainment lounge, library, lobby souvenir shop, sauna and massage and a pool/Jacuzzi on the elegant sun deck! A gorgeous addition to the Nile that will surely satisfy even the most discriminating cruise aficionados! Non-smoking (exteriors-outside only).

Yes, visas are currently required for traveling to Egypt. So before leaving home, please ensure that you have your valid PASSPORT and appropriate VISA. Please make sure your U.S. passport has a validity of at least 6 months beyond your scheduled travel dates and check for visa updates with the U.S. or the appropriate foreign consulates at least 90 days prior to your departure. If you are a foreign national – please check with your country’s consulate, as rules may be different.

All visitors to Egypt are required to have a visa and a passport. Visas can be obtained on arrival for approximately $30 per person. For Jordan (if buying our Jordan extension) the entry visa costs $30 per person – purchased on arrival. If flying via Egypt air and returning to Egypt another re-entry visa $25 must be paid. (valid at the time of printing – subject to change)

If you have purchased your air tickets through us, your transfers will be included. However, transfers are still available for those who would like to arrange their own airfare, for a fee. For more information about transfer rates for this program, please call our office at (714) 556-8258 or toll free (800) 795-1633.

Introducing the newest most luxurious cruiser along the Nile – the MS “Farah”. This opulent brand new vessel, launched in October of 2010 boasts of world class facilities, accommodations and superior on board service! She features 62 extra spacious all outside facing cabins 250 sq ft and 2 luxurious 550 sq ft suites. Low deck cabins have windows while all other cabins feature floor to ceiling French Balconies, flat screen LCD TV’s, mini bars, elegant bathrooms with hair dryers, individual climate controls and a unique western style feature – free wireless internet throughout! Public areas include a one seat restaurant with buffet breakfasts and lunches and the first ever a’la’carte dinner options, a night bar, entertainment lounge, library, lobby souvenir shop, sauna and massage and a pool/Jacuzzi on the elegant sun deck! A gorgeous addition to the Nile that will surely satisfy even the most discriminating cruise aficionados! Non-smoking (exteriors-outside only).

There are no telephone lines for outgoing calls on our vessels. Communication from ship to shore can only be done through the Captain’s radio. However, you may bring your US cell phone to use – just please make sure it is “unlocked” by your US provider in order to use it. Wi-Fi is available in public areas.

The unit of currency is the Egyptian Pound (EGP), which is divided into 100 piastres, though you will not find coins or bills smaller than 25 piastres. The exchange rate at the time of printing is approximately: 1 USD = 17.80 Egyptian pounds.

The currency on the ship is the Egyptian pound. Major credit cards are accepted. Most credit cards are accepted in major hotels and restaurants. Visitors are advised to take traveler checks in US Dollars or Pounds to avoid additional exchange rate charges. Banks are usually closed on Friday and Saturday, but private exchange bureaus, called ‘Forex’, are open daily and banks in major hotels are open 24 hours. Cairo branches of the Egyptian British Bank and Banque Misr have ATMs available that accept Visa, MasterCard and Cirrus and are quite common in the main tourist areas.

Most definitely! We do our best to ensure that each of our programs offer a healthy balance of cultural immersion through our included tours and free time for our passengers. You will have plenty of free time to shop for souvenirs, explore on your own, or take one of the optional tours (when provided.)

Tipping today has become commonplace in all tourist destinations, including Egypt. Due to the volatile nature of the local economy, salaries for regular folk are pitiful compared to the rising costs and inflation – let alone if we compare them to western standards. For the majority of the people working in the service industries (hotels, ships, restaurants, travel), tips and gratuities have become large sources of their income. Therefore, your gracious generosity will be appreciated throughout your trip. However, tips in the “East” are still left to your discretion. Therefore, no service – no tip! We generally recommend that each person set aside $200-$250 to cover all tipping needs for the total duration of the program – but this is merely a suggested amount. You may leave as little or as much as you feel comfortable with. If you endear yourself to any particular crew member and wish to award them directly – please feel free to do so!

For more information about tipping, including Individual vs. Pooled Tipping, please take a look at our detailed Egypt Travel Tips.

Special meal requests are possible. If you have any food allergies or special dietary needs, please be sure to notify our office at least 90 days prior to your departure. We and the restaurant staff will make every effort to arrange for special meals, however, if you have strict dietary restrictions, you may want to bring some non-perishable snacks, crackers, dried fruits, dietary sweeteners, or other items that will compliment the limited variety of special meals.

For a complete list of suggested items to bring, please read our detailed Egypt Travel Tips. But here are a few important items that often get overlooked!

Electrical current in hotels and on board the ship is 220 volts/50MHZ. In order to use any appliances, (including shavers, chargers for cameras etc.) you will need to bring:
1) Universal Transformer: to convert from US 110 Volts to 220. (Please check your equipment: some of the latest electronics automatically convert between a range of voltage)
2) Universal Adapter Plugs: for sockets that are different than at home. Since there are no supplies of converters/ adapters, we recommend you purchase a transformer/ adapter plug set at a travel or appliance store before you leave.

PLEASE DO NOT FORGET: Medications which are vital to your health. A letter should accompany these from your doctor (signed and dated), certifying that such medications are vital to your health. Dosage should be indicated. Always pack any personal medications in your carry-on luggage, not in your checked baggage. Additionally, those passengers with lighter physical disabilities must report them to us at the time of booking.